Hawthorne owners Reed Landry and Fritz Brogan have officially opened the restaurant portion of their U Street tavern, serving a dinner menu of American bistro fare from chef Dot Steck. The four-story space, formerly home to Tabaq Bistro, debuted last month.*
Steck is a 30-year veteran of the Washington restaurant industry, and worked alongside Ann Cashion at the original Jaleo, as well as Cashion’s most recent venture, Taqueria Nacional. Currently Steck also oversees the kitchen at Landry and Brogan’s Mexican spot in Dupont Circle, Mission. Her seasonal American menu at Hawthorne stars eight varieties of PEI mussels, all served with bread, garlic aioli, and duck fat fries ($20, or half-priced at weekday happy hour from 5 to 7). Other options range from patatas bravas to garlic-braised Freebird chicken, and a classic crab cake sandwich.